SuperFriend is an initiative of the Industry Funds Forum Mental Health Foundation. It is a nation-wide initiative and is aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of industry superannuation fund members. SuperFriend's programs are aimed at early prevention and response. The program's goal is to reduce the incidence of suicide and the impact of mental illness on individuals, workplaces, friends and families.

Developed through a partnership of industry superannuation funds concerned about member health, SuperFriend brings together partners from the superannuation funds, insurers and mental health organisations to offer resources that appeal to members and assist with seeking early help.

The SuperFriend Foundation also provides the delivery of a specifically tailored call centre training module for various super funds to support staff in identifying members at risk and responding appropriately with referrals, resources and claims management. The Foundation is also involved in ongoing research about mental illness.

AustSafe Super is a member of the Industry Funds Forum and is proud to support SuperFriend.

For more information, visit the SuperFriend website.

AustSafe Super supports SuperFriend not only as an industry fund, but also because mental health issues are often unaddressed in rural communities. Suicide rates in rural and remote areas of Australia are significantly higher than the national average and very remote regions have suicide rates more than double that of major capital cities. Considering what a tough year Queensland and New South Wales has been through we can understand that many of our employers and members might be feeling it right now, which is why we are right behind this initiative. SuperFriend and R U OK? have partnered to create a National Day of action called:

R U OK? Day on Thursday
15 September 2011.

What you can do?

The aim is to get people to connect with their workmates, friends and loved ones by reaching out to anyone doing it tough. Every workplace can do their part – take time out for a coffee or break and ask someone you are concerned about "Are you ok?" and help stop little problems from becoming big ones.

To register your workplace visit www.ruokday.com.au
Starting conversations that could change lives
How to ask R U OK?